My basement has leaked twice during large floods in the last 3 years. House was built in the 50’s. It is a middle townhouse in which the back yard is the problem. I have no access to drains that lead to the street. My property is midway down a hill in which all of townhouses above me in the backyard most likely don’t help the water table during heavy storms.
After the first flood, I did the easy things. Graded the slope away from the house, made sure the gutters are clean, and extended the downspouts out from 10 to 15 ft. The flooding in May wasn’t as bad, but a ½ inch of water still ruins the carpet.
The wall is cinder blocks on the inside and a thin layer (enough to match the bricks) of concrete on the outside (bricks come to almost ground level). When I pulled off the sheetrock, I noticed small holes where water might have gotten through the cinder blocks, but I believe that most of it is coming in from between the footer and the slab.
I am looking to correct this problem, but am unsure as to the best approach. A masonry contractor wants to excavate the entire back of the townhouse about 2-3 ft below the footers, put a coating on the concrete and backfill under the footers with gravel to create a dry drain. A plumber wants to install a sump pump. The cost isn’t much of a difference between the options. Any suggestions??
After the first flood, I did the easy things. Graded the slope away from the house, made sure the gutters are clean, and extended the downspouts out from 10 to 15 ft. The flooding in May wasn’t as bad, but a ½ inch of water still ruins the carpet.
The wall is cinder blocks on the inside and a thin layer (enough to match the bricks) of concrete on the outside (bricks come to almost ground level). When I pulled off the sheetrock, I noticed small holes where water might have gotten through the cinder blocks, but I believe that most of it is coming in from between the footer and the slab.
I am looking to correct this problem, but am unsure as to the best approach. A masonry contractor wants to excavate the entire back of the townhouse about 2-3 ft below the footers, put a coating on the concrete and backfill under the footers with gravel to create a dry drain. A plumber wants to install a sump pump. The cost isn’t much of a difference between the options. Any suggestions??